Understanding The Basics Of Speed Reading

Speed reading is​ not just a​ parlor trick you can use to​ impress your friends and family. For many it’s a​ necessary tool for managing time and information in​ the fast-paced business world, and for many others, specifically students, it’s the only way to​ get through reading-heavy class loads.

The practiced speed reader can pick up a​ lengthy document or​ a​ thick stack of​ papers and use their skill to​ get at​ the meat of​ the subject by skimming for the most important details and information. Without developing the ability to​ speed read, this time-saving technique is​ merely flipping through pages fast.

Speed reading, or​ increasing the rate at​ which you read text, is​ linked to​ increasing the rate at​ which you understand what you’re reading. The key to​ successful speed reading is​ increasing your understanding of​ the text as​ you increase the rate at​ which you read the words. it​ takes training and practice, but don’t be intimidated by the idea of​ a​ challenge. Think of​ it​ as​ the next, natural step to​ your reading development. Once you’ve mastered it, it’s a​ skill that will stick with you for the rest of​ your life.

As a​ child, when you began to​ learn to​ read, chances are you began with the alphabet and the specific sounds each letter makes. Then you learned how to​ combine and blend letter sounds to​ decipher words. It’s called letter-by-letter reading. Then something clicked and you began to​ recognize words without having to​ sound out each letter one at​ a​ time and you graduated to​ word-by-word reading.

With continued practice common words and sentence structure became more familiar and because your brain was tuned and ready, your eye started taking in​ blocks of​ words at​ a​ time. The difference between average readers and speed readers is​ in​ the blocks of​ words their eyes take in​ at​ one time. The larger the blocks, the faster your eye moves through the text.

Speed reading teaches you how to​ take your reading and your comprehension to​ the next level. The techniques used in​ teaching speed reading focus on your individual abilities, namely where you are right now and what might be keeping you from progressing. For example, if​ you are a​ slow reader, factors that hold you back may include, but are not limited to, moving your lips or​ reading out loud or​ holding the text too close to​ your eyes.

If you are in​ the practice of​ moving your lips, or​ speaking or​ whispering while you read, you’re slowing yourself down dramatically. Your lips can only move so fast. You should be able to​ read at​ least two or​ three times faster than you can speak. in​ effect, you’re keeping yourself at​ that word-by-word stage that children generally grow out of​ in​ elementary school.